NURS 8100 Week 10 Assignment Policy Briefs

NURS 8100 Week 10 Assignment

Policy Briefs: Expanding Postpartum Medicaid Coverage to Combat Maternal Health Inequities

Student Name

Walden University

NURS 8100: Theoretical and Scientific Foundations of Nursing

Professor Name

Date

Expanding Postpartum Medicaid Coverage to Combat Maternal Health Inequities

The maternal mortality rate in the United States stands at an unacceptable level, and Black and Indigenous women encounter mortality rates that are three to four times higher than those of white women (New York State Department of Health, 2024). The inequalities emerge from healthcare system obstacles as well as physicians’ unconscious racial preferences and insufficient postnatal medical care.

The most vital policy measure to resolve this matter involves extending Medicaid postpartum care duration from 60 days to 12 months. The brief endorses Minnesota H.F. 3 and the federal Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act as necessary legislative frameworks to provide equal care to vulnerable women before and after childbirth (Carty et al., 2022).

Context or Scope of Problem

The existing maternal health crisis springs from both racial imbalances and social health factors, and insufficient healthcare network coordination. The preventable causes result in increased rates of complications and death for both Black and Indigenous mothers and women of color. Poor maternal outcomes occur because of poverty alongside insufficient transportation services and inadequate funding of community clinics (Gordon et al., 2025).

New moms in Minnesota receive Medicaid benefits only during a brief two-month postpartum period before the coverage ends, thus denying them crucial postnatal medical care. The absence of proper care leads to undetected medical conditions and uncontrolled mental health problems, as well as deteriorating existing chronic illnesses. This matter affects health status while raising concerns about fairness within the community.

Policy Alternatives

The current Medicaid policy provides only 60 days of postpartum coverage because numerous maternal health complications emerge during the year following childbirth (Smith et al., 2025). The recommended clinical guidelines suggest 12 months of postpartum coverage, which would enhance patient outcomes. The proposed legislative measure, Minnesota H.F. 3, works to extend this period of Medicaid coverage.

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act at the federal level presents a set of 13 legislative proposals that work to decrease maternal deaths and finance community health initiatives while enhancing tracking systems (Carvalho et al., 2021). Research indicates that extended postpartum care benefits the government financially because it decreases medical expenses by preventing complications and hospital admissions (Carty et al., 2022). These proposals stand out as the most practical solution because they rest on solid evidence and receive support from both political sides.

Policy Recommendations

Minnesota should endorse H.F. 3 to provide extended Medicaid coverage for 12 months after childbirth for all mothers. The proposed measure enhances medical access for physical treatment and mental health services and breastfeeding education, and chronic disease management for patients. Congress should adopt the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in its entirety because it offers extensive financing for both workforce diversity expansion and telehealth applications alongside community-based support systems.

Provider education about cultural competence, together with community health worker investments and new mother enrollment simplification, should be part of the implementation phase. Nurse advocates support legislative efforts through their presence at hearings, together with coalition work and sharing patient stories, which help quantify data into human experiences (Ličen & Prosen, 2023).

Conclusion

The current maternal mortality problem needs immediate policy solutions. The expansion of Medicaid postpartum coverage combined with support for the Momnibus Act would achieve both reduced unnecessary maternal deaths and improved health equity. The national healthcare community backs these practical cost-effective legislative measures.

Nurses advance change through their work of community organization and their role in influencing legislators while protecting the right of all mothers to receive proper healthcare regardless of their race or financial situation. The moment demands both the elimination of maternal health disparities and the advancement of justice by means of policy making.

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